CAPE Phase 1: IEEPA Refunds Are on The Way and Momentum is Building

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will deliver its next progress update on the CAPE Phase 1 rollout to the U.S. Court of International Trade on May 12, 2026, marking the first major checkpoint since the system went live on April 20, 2026. 

CAPE (Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries) is the government’s solution for processing refunds tied to International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) duties—and early results show the process is already moving forward. 

Early Results Show Progress: 

• 21% of eligible entries have been accepted into CAPE for IEEPA duty removal  

• ~3% have already reached liquidation and moved into the refund stage  

• Initial refunds are expected to begin around May 11, 2026, issued by the U.S. Treasury  

What This Means for Your Business 

Refunds are no longer theoretical—they’re starting to happen. That makes now the time to act. 

Companies that take a proactive approach—reviewing entries, identifying eligibility, and ensuring data is positioned correctly—will be first in line as CBP scales the process. Those that wait risk delays as volumes increase. 

How to Stay Ahead 

CAPE Phase 1 is just the beginning. As CBP continues to expand the program, the pace of refunds is expected to accelerate. 

Now is the opportunity to: 

• Identify impacted entries  

• Validate eligibility for IEEPA duty refunds  

• Position your filings to move quickly through CAPE  

How Allyn Can Help

The May 12 update will provide further clarity, but one thing is already clear: the refund cycle has started. Allyn International is actively supporting the trade community in understanding their tariff exposure and maximizing their refund eligibility. If you have questions about tariffs or would like to explore strategies to reduce their impact on your business operations, contact Allyn today for a consultation at sales@allynintl.com.